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New Zealanders – they are such a wacky bunch. The thick flat accent, the shorts and thongs in the freezing cold weather, the abundance of personalised number plates on cars – us Australians sometimes just shake our heads.
But above all the craziness, we love their unquestionable passion for rugby. The game, as they say, is a religion across the Tasman.
However, there is one thing more prolific than rugby in New Zealand: the All Blacks themselves.
The country’s infatuation for their national team is amazing and the understandable pressure on the All Blacks to win their first Rugby World Cup since 1987 is immense. That may seem like an obvious statement now, but I, personally, have only recently discovered it and experienced it firsthand.
On Monday, I returned home from New Zealand after covering the World Cup for the Rugby News Service. I was based in Hamilton, reporting on the teams that trained and played at Waikato Stadium.
I travelled across the Tasman as an AFL tragic and rugby virgin. I had never seen a game of rugby live. I had never wanted to.
But I have come back with a true appreciation, not only for the game, but for the All Blacks – New Zealand’s quintessential protagonists.
There were some truly memorable moments during my time in Kiwi land. But undoubtedly the highlight was following and covering the All Blacks in the week leading up to their Pool match against Japan.
It really hit me during that week: these guys are heroes, almost gods. They are on every second television advertisement, they fill the majority of the sports section in the newspapers and their numbers appear on the back of so many jerseys.
When you talk to the people of New Zealand, there is certainly an air of expectancy about the All Blacks at the World Cup.
But it is not a nervous expectancy. It is a confident, almost hubristic, expectancy.
New Zealanders disregard past World Cup results. They know their current team is the best in the world. Therefore, they not only expect the All Blacks to win, they know the All Blacks will win.
And when you look at the World Cup to date, the fans have every right to be confident.
The All Blacks have already proven they are the team to beat. They have been the most convincing team to date, scoring the most tries and points of all teams and winning every game with a bonus point. Put simply, they have had the perfect start.
But the All Blacks’ tournament really starts now in the quarter finals. And they will have to start without their best player.
Even a relatively new rugby follower like me knows how big a loss Dan Carter is to the All Blacks. The star fly half, who is international rugby’s highest ever point scorer, will not take any further part in the tournament due to a groin injury.
It is a massive dagger to the hearts of the All Blacks and their fans. It is the equivalent of Kobe Bryant suffering a season-ending injury for the Los Angeles Lakers during the playoffs, or Wayne Rooney going down for Manchester United just weeks before the end of the season.
But Carter’s injury is not the end of the world for the All Blacks. They have incredible squad depth – and their fans know that.
For years, it has been the likes of Carter, skipper Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina who have captured imagination of their country. But a fresh, exciting group of charismatic players are quickly becoming crowd favourites.
Ma’a Nonu is the key to the All Blacks’ World Cup aspirations.
He breaks lines like normal human beings break matchsticks. No other team in the tournament has a centre like Nonu, so his teammates must bring him into the game at every opportunity.
How about Richard Kahui? Not too many rugby pundits would have thought he would feature heavily in Rugby World Cup 2011. But just over three weeks in and the wing has been close to the player of tournament, scoring four tries and taking high balls with aplomb.
Israel Dagg is another beauty. His three scintillating performances at full back have turned heads quicker than Mark Webber turns corners. Dagg has scored five tries, went on exhilarating runs and produced a number of intelligent kicks. Good luck stopping him in the finals.
And we can’t forget Sonny Bill Williams, perhaps the most damaging pure bench player in the tournament. He offloads the ball at the right time and is not afraid to run unusual lines. Oh and the females love him, with or without a shirt.
The All Blacks have been clinical and comprehensive. But the real test starts now.
Argentina will push them, particularly in the scrum, but they don’t have the spark in the back line like the All Blacks do.
Then comes the big test that will surely turn even the most confident New Zealander into a nervous wreck: the seasoned Springboks or the underperforming yet young Wallabies.
Seriously, imagine if the All Blacks lost that game? I hope I am not a jinx, but if they do the unthinkable and exit early, New Zealand will explode. The country will split from two islands to four islands – maybe more.
However the support and love for the All Blacks far outweighs the scrutiny. Their fans genuinely believe in this team and will ride every bump with them.
But please win Rugby World Cup 2011 All Blacks – for the sake of your country.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.